Phoenix Suns fans slam Jayson Tatum's NBA MVP candidacy: 'Devin Booker was ignored'
Some Phoenix Suns fans are evidently still bitter about how the voting for the 2021-22 NBA MVP Award played out.
That season, the Suns went an NBA best 64-18, a full eight games better than any other NBA team.
Devin Booker averaged 26.8 points per game to lead the Suns, while adding five rebounds per game and 4.8 assists per game in a potentially MVP-worthy season.
Only Booker didn't win the NBA's MVP award.
He didn't even make the top three.
The Suns star came in fourth in voting for the award behind the Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (whose team went 48-34), the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (whose team was 51-31) and the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (whose team also went 51-31).
Why do we bring that up now?
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VOTE: Where should the #Celtics' Jayson Tatum be ranked in the #NBA MVP race right now? (#Suns fans slam candidacy: https://t.co/uZIkQmx8jv) #ComingInHot #BleedGreen #DifferentHere
— Jeremy Cluff (@Jeremy_Cluff) February 27, 2024
Media pushing for Jayson Tatum to be NBA MVP
There seems to be a push by some NBA writers and personalities for the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum to get more love in the NBA MVP race because he is the best player on the NBA's best team (Boston is 45-12 right now and Tatum is averaging 26.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game).
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith is among the media member pushing for Tatum's MVP chances.
He recently put Tatum No. 1 in his NBA MVP rankings, saying on First Take: "The best player on the best team. You're the No. 1 option. Everyone's watching you. Everybody's coming at you every single night. You're the No. 1 team by six games. I can't ignore that from Jayson Tatum. I can't ignore that! 27 a night … Jayson Tatum can’t be ignored."
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.@ShannonSharpe and @stephenasmith share their top three NBA MVP candidates 🍿 pic.twitter.com/bqPcHYSTdO
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 26, 2024
'Devin Booker was ignored' in 2021-22 NBA MVP voting
Suns fans sounded off on social media about Smith's NBA MVP comments for Tatum in light of the fact that Booker had a very similar season in 2021-22.
They wondered: How is it that Tatum suddenly "can't be ignored" for NBA MVP for being the best player on the best team in the league when Booker didn't receive serious consideration for the award in similar circumstances a few years ago?
And they were not happy about that in their comments ...
Dam, it was just ignored a few years back in 2021-2022 if I remember well 🤔
Devin Booker
(64-18 record) The best record in the League by a full 8 games
27pts
5rbs
5ast https://t.co/4zRlC0Dhls— FLEX From Jersey (@FlexFromJersey) February 27, 2024
If this is the criteria for MVP then Devin Booker should’ve won in 2021. https://t.co/NQyHF1BfKP
— CantGuardBook (@CGBBURNER) February 27, 2024
This Celtics megateam only being on pace for 65 wins really puts into perspective how ridiculous it was that Devin Booker wasn’t even an MVP candidate when the Suns won 65 in ‘22 https://t.co/VGNhwPbEHY
— Jarred Lok (@JarredOppa) February 27, 2024
Tatum this season vs Booker 2022 season:
Tatum Booker —
26.9 PPG 26.8 PPG
8.5 RPG 5.0 RPG
4.8 APG 4.8 APG
48% FG 47% FG
45-12 W/L 64-18 W/L
Not Top 3 in MVP Rankings as 1st Seeds pic.twitter.com/yy6bAh5LcK— Hoop Muse (@HoopMuse) February 27, 2024
If you think Booker was not the MVP in 2022
You cannot say Tatum is the 2024 MVP pic.twitter.com/mxjlRMpyaB— Maxey fan (@MaxeyFan76) February 24, 2024
Keep moving the goal post and Booker keeps knocking it down. But then they change it again to fit the narrative. If this is true @stephenasmith then why was @DevinBook not named MVP in 2021?! Stop disrespecting Booker! https://t.co/KtVJoz8DPn
— bigpanda480 (@BigPanda480) February 27, 2024
Devin Booker is the only player in NBA history to put up 25-5-5 as the #1 guy on the #1 team and not win MVP https://t.co/FBNxK4EvXJ
— G-MONEY (@DariosBurner) February 21, 2024
Now do that for 2021 and 2022 Suns teams and Devin Booker…
— #KNP Jay (@jayhastings79) February 27, 2024
By this logic Donovan Mitchell and Devin Booker were robbed of MVP in 2021 and 2022. Also Giannis was barely being talked about for MVP last year and he also had the best record in the league. And all of them were doing this WITHOUT a superteam btw
— Norman Otterman (@NormanOtterman) February 27, 2024
Where was the energy for book
— K (@AZSports9292) February 27, 2024
Booker was ignored.
— Sketchy (@Sketchy72) February 27, 2024
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What 2024 NBA MVP odds say
Interestingly, Jokic leads recent 2024 NBA MVP odds from BetMGM Sportsbook, coming in at -130 for the award.
The Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is second, at +210, with the Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic and Antetokounmpo tied for third at +900.
Tatum is fifth at +2500 in the odds.
No. 10 on the list right now? Booker, at +25000 odds.
Do you think Jayson Tatum should be the NBA MVP this season?
NBA MVP odds: Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant, Devin Booker in top 10
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WANNA BET? Here are the latest Phoenix Suns odds and betting lines
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jayson Tatum's NBA MVP candidacy slammed by Suns, Devin Booker fans
